277: Why Wendy Gonzalez Fires Herself Every Year, and Why You Should Too!

Radical empathy in leadership isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a game-changer. But practicing it? That takes intention, self-awareness, and a willingness to evolve. In this episode of the improve it! Podcast, Erin sits down with Wendy Gonzalez to dive deep into what it truly means to lead with radical empathy. Wendy is the CEO at Sama and is passionate about building high-performing, high-functioning teams that develop and scale innovative, impactful technology. Wendy shares her bold philosophy of "firing yourself" annually—a practice that keeps leaders accountable to the ever-changing needs of their organizations. They break down the power of vulnerability, the necessity of introspection, and why stepping back doesn’t mean stepping away. Wendy also reveals why natural curiosity is a superpower and how surrounding yourself with passionate people leads to greater impact. And in a moment of pure inspiration, she shares her personal purpose—raising good humans. If you're ready to rethink leadership, embrace change, and lead with more heart—this episode is for you. And if you’re interested in taking one small action right now, you can check out our newest freebie, The Tomorrow Ready Checklist, here. Use this checklist to remember who you are, what you stand for, and what you actually want to spend your time doing.   No, You Hang Up First (Let’s Keep Connecting) Did today’s episode resonate with you? Leave us a review sharing your favorite insight and we’ll send you a free signed copy of I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy. Have another question that we can answer? Leave us a Speakpipe audio clip and we’ll answer it in an upcoming episode. Don’t want to miss another episode? If you’re a Spotify listener, find our show here and click “Follow.” If you’re an Apple Podcast listener, click here and make sure to hit “+Follow.” Want access to a bunch of free resources for your work life? This is your personal jackpot that gives you access to the frameworks that help us thrive both personally and professionally. Whether you’re trying to improve your daily routine, flesh out an idea that you’ve had for quite some time, or want to add more play into your day - these resources have got your back. Want 2 emails a week from us? One with a quick tip you can implement right away to enhance your personal and/or professional lives & one of our famous F.A.I.L. Fourward Friday newsletters? Subscribe here. Connect with Wendy Gonzalez Wendy’s LinkedIn Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it! Erin’s website Erin’s Instagram Erin’s TikTok Erin’s LinkedIn improve it!’s website improve it!’s Instagram